System of pneumatic control.



No. 842,619. PATENTBD JAN. 29, 1907.

B. J. BRING. SYSTEM 0F PNEUMATIG CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY25, 1906.

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LVHL/VLRSES No. 842,619. PATENTE!) JAN. 29, 1907. E. J. `BRNG. SYSTEM 0F PNEUMATIG CONTROL.

APPLGATION .FILED JULY 25, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 842,619. PATBNTED JAN. 29, 1907. E. E. BRING. SYSTEM F PNEMATIG CONTROL.

LPPLIGATIGH FILED JULYQE, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

[NI/ENTOR Eind #Erl/y UNITED sTATEs Y PATENT OFFICE.

SYSTEM OF PNEUMATIC CONTROL..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented aan. 29, 1907.

Application filed Juiy z5, i906. semi No. szavz.

.To aZZ' whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, EINAR J. BRING, a subject of the King of. Sweden, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and vuseful Improvements in Systems of Pneumatic Control, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to pneumatic control systems for electric motors, and it is especially adapted for use in connection with electrically-propelled vehicles or trains.

The improved system employs a series of pipes'for conveying compressed air or other fluid under a constant pressure, which will be called in the following description the conetant-pressure circuit, and a series of pipes for compressed air or other fluid under variable pressure, which will be hereinafter referred to as the variable-pressure circuit.

A series of cylinders and pistons is provided for each of said circuits, the pistonsof the constant circuit being connected to electric switches and lbeing operated through valves actuated by the pistons of the vari'- able circuit, the operation of said variablecircuit pistons being controlled by the admission or exhaustion of compressed iiuid thereto by a master-valve under control of lthe motorman or operator. y @The invention also includes improved means for moving the pistons of the variable ycircuit with a snap action, means for gradually increasin the pressure in the variable circuit, meansgfor equalizing the pressure on Ieach side of the pistons connected with the constant-pressure circuit, and means whereby the pistons of the variable-pressure circuit are operated by predetermined pressures thereon.

The invention also covers operation of the reversing-switch by means of two singleacting air-cylinders and various ycombina- "one end of a car or train and the reverser and tions of parts and details of construction, all

of which will be specific-ally describedhereinafter in connection with the accompanying cation.

drawings, which form a part rof this speciii` In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva- Ition of a plurality of cylinders and pipe connections employed in carrying out the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan showing the controller or master-valve and its pipe connections at its connecting pipes. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the controller-valve at the opposite end of the car or train. Fig. 5 is a diagram of an electric-motor circuit, selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the controller-valve. Fig. 7 is a top plan thereof with parts shown in dotted lines." Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the relations between the ports in the valve-seat and cavities in the rotary disk. Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the reverser-valve disk in a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing different positions of the controller-valve disk. Fig. 11 is a central vertical section of one of the constant-circuit cylinders, one of the variable-circuit cylinders, `one of the valves, and their contained mechanism and connections. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the same ;'y and Fig; 13 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of variable-circuit cylinder and valve.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a controller adapted to be located on a car-platform and provided with a controller-valve operated by a handle 2 and a reverser-valve operated by a handle 3. Only'one of these controllers is employed for single end operation, but where a car is to be operated from either end two controllers will of course be employedone on each of the car-platforms.

A tank or reservoir 4 for compressed air is provided (which may be the brake-reservoir or a separate one, as preferred) .having a pipe connection 5 with a compresser, a pipe connection 6 with the controller, and apipe connection 7 with the constant-circuit pipe 8. The pipe 8, constituting the main supply-pipe 'of the constant circuit, has a pipe connection 9 with the valve-chamber 10 of each oi the constant-pressure cylinders 11. The port x3 of the controller is connected by a pipe 13 with the main pipe 14 of the variable-pressure circuit, said pipe 14 having a pipe connection IOO IIO

spectively. Communication between ports l thef cylinder 17 and one which cuts off air m2, and x3 and also between ports x5, m2, l from both of said reverser-cylinders when and 003 is effected through cavities 0c and x4 in the rotary disk. Port :155 has an exhaust 29 to atmosphere. The porta:10 is also provided with an exhaust-pipe 30. Vllithin each of the constant-circuit cylinders 1 lis a piston 31, connected to a piston-rod 32, the outer ends of lsaid rods being adapted to be secured to an electric switch. (Not shown.)

Each of the constant-circuit or switch cylinders is provided with a valve-cliamber 10, within which is supported a valve 33, controlling an air-inlet port 34. The valve 33 is connected by a stein 35 with a piston 36 within the variable-circuit cylinder 16. FX- tending through the stem 35 is a lever 37, pivotally secured at its upper end to a lug 38, projecting from the cylinder 11, and at its lower end to an arm 39, formed with an elongated slot 40, through which extends a cross-pin 41, supported by a bracket 4?, depending from the valve-chamber 10. circled by a coil-spring 43, one end of which bears against a shoulder 44 on said arm, while the opposite end hears against lock-nuts 45, fitting the threaded upper portion of said arm. Thisspring-arm connection is an important adjunct oi the variable-circuit piston, as it insures a snap action of the piston. The construction is such that, the power the spring exerts upon the piston in its line of motion diminishes as the tension of the sprin is increased. This is due lto the incline position of the spring-arm 39 and its pivotal connection withv the lever 37. This lever 37 has a ball-and-socket connection with the stem 35, as shown at46 in Fig. 11.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, the numerals 47 and 48 designate disk-valves centrally mounted, respectively, upon the handleshafts 49 and 50 of the controller: It will be understood that the specific construction of the disks 47 and' 48 and the area of the leakage-groove and cavities in the4 same and ports controlled by said disks will vary according to the work required, the

function of said disks being to control the admission of airto the variable-pressure-circuit cylinders and tothe reverser, the size and relative location ofthe ports 51 and 53 in. the valve-seats and the leakage-groove and the cylinder 17 and simultaneously discharges air from the cylinder 18, one-which admits airto the cylinder 18 and discharges air troni the reverser at the opposite end of the car is to be operated. These positions aie indicated in Fig. 3, as follows: the forward position at R, theoii` position R2, and the reverse position R3.

The handle controlling the supply of air to the variable-pressure circuit has (in the construction here shown) seven different positions, (illustrated by the diagram in Fig. 10 and dotted lines in Fig. 3 as fellows):y the closed 0r off position C a quick-discharge position C?, a gradual-application position C3, intermediate oli position C, gradual-discharge position C5, quick-discharge position C, and off position C7.

To illustratev the application of the system to .switch-controlling cylinders 4of dili'erent construction, I have shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, thirteen cylinders embodying five different constructions as follows: The cylinders K, open at their upper ends, cylinders K2, closed at their upper ends; cylinders K3, closed on top and having two pistonvalves and two control-cylinders 16; cylinder K4, closed at its upper end and having neither piston-valve nor control-cylinder, and cylinder K5, open at its upper end and having neither piston-valve nor control-cylinder. Various combinations cf these several types of cylinders may be employed, it being apparent that the type of /cylinder to be used for a certain switch depends on the number of times this switch has to be closed or opened and also on its relation to the closing cr cpening of the other switches during one cycle of application. With certain of these cylinders shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I employ'pipe connections 54, connecting the upper ends of the cylinders with the valve-chambers 10 tc equalize the pressure on opposite sides of the pistons in said cylinders, thereby causing spring 55 to force piston down, and thus opening4 the switch The operation of the apparatus constructed as above set forth will now be described; but before specifically following the course of the air-circuits in one cycle of application it may be stated that after the reverser-valve has been operated to determine the direction of movement of the car the controller-valve is manipulated to start and accelerate the circuit cylinders to operate the electric .switches through the movement of the pistons of the constant-circuit c linders.

It should be noted that all7 of the pistonsprings 43 are ci"V the same tensicn and all of said pistons of such, diameter that they will compress said springs when subjected t0 a predetermined air-pressure, or else all of the control-pistons are of thel same diameterv an d IOO IIO

the springs so tensiciied that they will yield I only to a predetermined pressure, so that it will be understood that certain of the control-pistons will yield -to a pressure which would not operate other control-pistons, and

^ consequently certain of the electric switches are` operated by a certain pressure of air in the variable-pressure circult, while others of said switches are not operated until addithrough pipes 2311, 25, and 26, port w3, cavity x4, port x5, and discharge-pipe 29. On the master-valve at the other end of the car the reverser-handle 3 should be in theposition R2 and the control-handle 2in the position C or C7. This determines the direction ofmotion.

The leakage groove or nozzle 12 is of such cross-sectional area that. it will increase thel pressure in pipe 14 from atmospheric pressure to the pressure in the reservoir in a certain predetermined time, this time'being approximately the same time required to bring the car from a standstill to full speed.

The switches establishing the combination of connections here described' should be closed and opened in the following order: First, close switch A', next switches A3 and A8, then switch A2, then switch A9, and then the switches A7, A10, A, A11, and A5 successively in the order named. Full series is now attained. The next switching step is to close switch A12 and open switches A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A1o A11. The nextA step closes switches A4 and A13 and opens switch A12, at

' which point the connections 'change Jfrom series to parallel. Further steps close first switches A9 and A", then switches A10 and A6, and the final step closes switches A11 and A5, establishing full parallel.

The movement ofthe controller-handle toI the position C3 applies ressure to all of the control-cylinders 16, t rough the port leakage groove. 12, cavity m7, port x8, and pipes 13, 14, and 15. The pressure now increases in the pipe 14 at a rategoverned by the cross-sectional area of the leakage-groove 12 and the pressure in thepipe 8, and during this gradual increase each of the control-pistons actuates its piston-valve at the instant a certain predetermined pressure is attained. In other words, the pistons are constructed and piped in such Ia manner that they will cause the operation of the switches in the order above stated.

To cut out the switches, move the controlhandle into the position C2, which will open a disch arge for the pipe 14 through the port cvs,

cavity r9, port x10, and discharge-pipe 30. When the pressure in the pipe 14 is exhausted, all of the switches are cut out.

It it is desired to run on any particular switch, move the control-handle'into the position C3, leaving it there until the desired switch is closed, which can be noted either by the speed of the car or by a pressure-gage piped into the pipe 14. Then move the controllerhandle into the position C1, thus cutting out any further admission of compressed air to the pipe 14. y Should it then be desired to cut out some switches before full parallel is attained, movethe control-handle linto the position C5, which will discharge pressure from the pipe 14 through the cavity 907, leakage-groove m11, port m10, and dischargepipe 3() to atmosphere gradually. li a rapid disch arge is desired, move the control-handle into the position C,

If the control-handle has been brought as far as C4 and it is then desired to cut all of the switch es out, move the control-handle to the l of combinations of cylinders, valves, and pis-.

tons, together with the required pipe connections, and I would therefore have it understood that the invention is not restricted to the construction of apparatus here shown and described, but includes all such `modifications and variations in the. details and relative arrangement of parts as may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined 1n the claims.

What I claim, and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pneumatic-control system orelectric motors, the combination with electrical apparatus, of a series of pipes for fluid under pressure constituting a circuit of variable pressure, a second series of pipes for iiuid under pressure, constituting a circuitv of constant pressure, a plurality of pistons in said variable-pressure circuit, of such diameter as to adapt them to compress a'sprin of known tension when acted upon bya pre eterrnined pressure, and a plurality `of valves in said constant-pressure circuit, each 'controlling the admission of fluid to or the discharge of fluid from a cylinder' in` said constant-pressure circuit.

2. In a pneumatic-control system for electric motors, thecombination with a series of electric switches, of a series of pipes constituting a constant-pressure circuit, a second series of pipes constituting a variable-pressure circuit, a series of cylinders in said constant-pressure circuit, pistons in said cylinders connected to said switches, the movement of said pistons being governed by the pressure in said variable-pressure circuit.

lOO

ITO

3. In a pneumatic-control system for electric motors, the combination with a series of electric switches, of a series of pipes for compressed air, constituting 'a circuit of Variable pressure, a second series of pipes for compressed air constituting a circuit of constant pressure, a series of cylinders, pistons and Valves, in said constant circuit, and a pipev connectionv between any of said valves and cylinders in said constant circuit whereb pressure on each side of said pistons is equa ized, or the pressure on one side exhausted simultaneously with the admission of air to `thecylinderl operated by a valve from which pipe connection is drawn. l

4. In a pneumatic-control system Jfor electric motors, the combination with a series of electric switches, of a series of pipes for compressed air constituting a circuit of constant pressure, a series of pipes for compressed air constituting `a circuit oi" Variable pressure, a piston in the Variable-pressure circuit `and a spring connected to said piston in such relation that the force it exerts upon the piston in its line of movement diminishes as the tension of the 'spring is increased thereby causing the piston to move with a snap action.

5. In a pneumatic-control system for electric motors, the combination with a'series of electric switches, of a series of pipes for compressed air constituting a circuit of constant pressure, a series of pipes for compressed air constituting a circuit of lvariable pressure,

the movement of parts in said constant circuitbeing. controlled by the increase or decrease of pressurein said variable circuit, and a Valve controlling the admission of compressed air to the variable circuit' thereby permitting'v any desired' pressure Vto be maintained. l L f l 6. In apneumatic-control system for electric switches, .the combination with a series of pipes forcompressed air constituting a circuit of constant pressure, and a series of pipes for compressed air, constituting a circuit of variablepressure, a series of cylinders and pistons -in said constant circuit, and means whereby themovement'of said pistons in the constantjci'rcuit -will depend upon the degree of pressure ,in lthe variable circuit, the eXist.

v ence of a certain pressure in the variable cir cuit actuating .'a'certain piston in the constant circuit,

7. In a pneumaticycontrol system for elec-l tric switches, .the combination with a series of p1pes f1o`r compressed air constituting a constant circuit and a series of pipes for compressed air constituting a variable circuit,

pistons in said constant circuit controlled by the pressurcin said variable circuit, and

means forl effecting a gradual increase of pressure in said variable circuit.

` 8. In a pneumatic-control system for electric switches, thev combination with a series of pipes for compressed air constituting a constant circuit and a series of pipes for compressed air constituting a variable circuit, pistons in said constant circuit controlled by the pressure in said Variable circuit, and means for effecting a gradual increase of pressure in said variable circuit, comprising a nozzle or leakage-groove ot predetermined cross-sectionall area.

9. In a pneumatic-control system for elec- Atric switches, the combination with a series of pipes for compressed air, constituting a constant/circuit, and a series of pipes for'compessed air constitutim a Variable circuit, a series of Valves and pistons in the constant circuit, a series of pistons in the Variable circuit, a series of springs of predetermined tension, each adapted to be compressed by its piston when said piston is subjectedto a certain pressure to actuate one of the Valves controlling 'the motion of one of the pistons in the constant circuit.

10. In a pneumatic-control systemfor electrically-driven'Vehicles or trains, the combination with a series of pipes constituting a circuit of constant pressure, and a series of' pipes constituting a circuit of Variable pressure, and means for increasing or decreasing the supply of compressed air, whereby the acceleration of the .vehicle or train depends primarily upon the rate of admission of air into said Variablel circuit.

11. In a pneumatic-control system for electricswitches, the combination with a compressed-air circuit of constant pressure, and a compressed-air circuit of variable pressure, means for graduallyincreasing the supply of air tothe Variable circuit, and a seriesfof pistons in said Variable circuit s o arranged as to cause certain switches to be closed at predetermined pressures during the gradual increase of pressure in the Variable circuit.

12. In a pneumatic-control system for electric motors, the combination with a plurality of vertically-disposed pneumatic cylinders, of valve-chambers adj accnt to said cylinders, horizontally-dis osed pneumatic cylinders adjacent to said) Valve-chambers, pistons in said horizontal cylinders, piston-rods for said pistons, and valves within said Valve-chamers connected to said piston-rods.

13. In a pneumatic-control system for electricmotors, the combination with a series of cylinders, of switch-controlling pistons, and piston-rods in said cylinders, a valve-chamer for each of said cylinders, a control-cylinder adjacent to each of said Valve-chambers, valves within said chambers connected to the piston-rods of said control-cylinders, and pipe connections for sup lying air under a constant pressure to said 'rst-mentioned cylinders, and air under variable pressure to said control-cylinders.

14. In a pneumatic-control system for electric motors, the combination with a plurality oi switch-cylinders, of a valve-chamber and IOO IIO

valve for each cylinder, control-cylinders having a piston7 and a piston-rod for operating said valves, means for supplying air under a constant pressure to said switch-cylinders, and air under variable pressure to said control-cylinders, and equaliZing-pipes oonneeting said valve-chambers and switch-cylinders.

l5. In a pneumatic-control system for electric motors, the combination with a plurality of switch-cylinders, of a valve-chamber 4and valve for each of said cylinders, a plurality of control-cylinders and a plurality of spring- Controlled pistons Within said control-cylinders for operating said valves.

16. In a pneumatic-control system for eleotric motors, the combination with a switchcylinder and its piston and piston-rod, of a valve-chamber and valve, a control-cylinder, a piston within said control-cylinder, and a device for regulating the movement of said control-cylinder piston comprising a lever connected to said piston, an inolined arm piv-` otally secured at one end to said lever, and at its opposite end to a suitable support, and a spring encircling said arm, and means for compressing said spring by the movement of said lever.

17. In a pneumatic-control system for eleotrio motors, the combination with a series of switch-cylinders, of a valve-chamber and valve for admitting air to said cylinders, a oontrol-eylinder for each of said valve-chambers, pistons and piston-rods within said eontrol-cylinders, and springs connected with said piston-rods whereby said pistons will be actuated by the admission of air to the control-cylinders under a predetermined pressure.

18. In a pneumatic-Control system for electrie motors, the combination with a series of switch-operating cylinders, pistons and piston-rods, of a series of control-cylinders each having a spring-controlled piston, means for admitting air to said switch-operating cylinders under a constant pressure, and air to said control-cylinders under a variable pressure, a series of pipe connections between said oylind rs and an air-supply, and a conltrollereval e Jfor regulating the supply of air through said pipes. Y

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature 1n the presence of two witnesses.y

EINAR J BRING. Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLovITZ, F. O. MCCLEARY. 

